Frisian Islands

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Frisian Islands

Frisian Islands (frĭzhˈən), chain of low-lying islands, off the coasts of the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark, in the North Sea. The West Frisian Islands, also known as the Wadden Islands, belonging to the Netherlands, are off the shores of North Holland, Friesland, and Groningen provs. and include the islands of Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, and Ameland. The East Frisian Islands, belonging to Germany, are east of the mouth of the Ems and include Norderney and Borkum. The North Frisian Islands, off the coast of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and S Jutland, Denmark, include Sylt, Föhr, and Rømø. Fishing and stock raising are pursued on most of the Frisian Islands. Many beach resorts are also there. The shallow waters between the islands and the mainland, known as the Wadden Sea, are marked by extensive tidal flats and salt marshes.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Frisian Islands

a group of islands in the North Sea extending approximately 250 km along the coasts of the Netherlands (the West Frisian Islands), the Federal Republic of Germany (the East Frisian Islands and the southern part of the North Frisian Islands), and Denmark (the northern part of the North Frisian Islands). The islands cover an area of approximately 480 sq km; however, their size changes significantly because of the effect of waves and wind. The islands are the remnant of a continental coast that was ravaged by the sea and partly submerged. They are separated from the continent by a strip of tidal flats.

The islands are mostly covered by dunes measuring as much as 20 m in height, along with some marshes and geests. Heaths and pine groves grow on the dunes, and meadows are cultivated on the marshes. There is an abundance of seabirds. The Eijer-landse-Gat wildlife preserve, which has colonies of the mollusk Mytilus, has been established to protect local seals in the shallows between the islands of Texel and Vlieland of the West Frisian Islands. Seaside resorts are found chiefly on Sylt Island (Federal Republic of Germany). The islanders engage in fishing.